Close games concern Boeheim

SYRACUSE  Despite an 18-1 record, and a conference leading 6-0 mark in the Big East Conference to begin the league slate, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is quite certain of one thing  his team must and will get better as the season heads down the home stretch.

If we dont, were not going to keep winning these tight games, Boeheim said after Mondays gut-wrenching 57-55 comeback win over Cincinnati in the Carrier Dome. Weve reacted well, and the kids have really battled with games on the line. But the bottom line is, the more youre in these kinds of end-of-game situations, the more you have a chance to lose.

The No. 3 Orange rallied from seven points down in the final five minutes Monday after Saturdays huge comeback to win at No. 1 Louisville. Boeheim suggested Louisville should have won that game, and that Cincinnati absolutely had a better chance to win than the Orange.

The game was over until Brandon (Triche) and Michael (Carter-Williams) hit all of those big shots, Boeheim said. If they dont make those, its an easy win for Cincinnati.

Triche and Carter-Williams combined for 11 of the final 15 points, two days after that duo played superbly at Louisville.

But even those two can still get better, Boeheim said. Brandon should be an 18-point, six-assist, five-rebound guy every night. And Michael is still learning his position so we expect him to make even bigger strides. But its no secret our guards have to play great in games like these.

Triche, who has started 126 consecutive games in his four-year SU career, agreed with his coach. I think the guards must play at a high level. But the last two wins have been team wins, with everybody contributing something, Triche said. Thats the only way were going to accomplish our goals.

Boeheims big men  Rakeem Christmas, DaJuan Coleman and Baye Moussa Keita  had just two points and five rebounds between them. Thats really their first bad game, but they are capable of giving us a lot more, Boeheim said. And I think they will.

Freshman Jerami Grant, who shined the last two games, had five points and seven rebounds, while redshirt freshman Trevor Cooney contributed eight points as Boeheim went with a three-guard lineup in both halves.

The college season is a long, learning process, and were in the middle of it, Boeheim said. But with some more practice and hard work, I think we can become a much better team.

whats SUs ranking?

Boeheim was asked where he would honestly rank his team, third in this weeks AP Top 25, in the national scheme of things at this point of the season.

The veteran skipper said, There are probably eight to teams, including us, in the top echelon. But there are 10-15 just behind that could beat any of the top teams. And those are the teams youre going to draw in the second round of NCAA Tournament.

He said Duke, if it has injured starter Ryan Kelly available, is probably the best team with Louisville just behind. Then Id put us, Kansas, Michigan, Florida, Gonzaga and Butler a notch below. Its going to be a wild ride to the NCAA Tournament.

QUICK TURNAROUND

Boeheims final words Saturday were in reference to SU having to play at Louisville on Saturday, then turn right around and play a Monday afternoon game.

Its ridiculous and stupid, he said, glaring right at Big East official John Paquette, who was in attendance Monday. Cincinnati played four league games in eight days and now has nine days off. And now we have a week off before our next game.

Boeheim said he realizes its all about TV. But lets do whats best for the kids first.

Asked if it was a big deal, playing another game so quickly after an emotional win, Triche said not really. I think as player wed rather have a game than a three-hour practice, he said. It just happens that those were two very physical games and it took a lot out of (us). But were young and I think we can bounce back quickly.

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